Alan Burnham

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Alan Burnham

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Iowa State University, 1972

Ph.D

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1977

Personal

Profession

Chemist

Contact

Campaign website

Alan Burnham ran for election for an at-large seat of the Alameda County Flood Control Board of Directors in California. He lost in the general election on March 5, 2024.

Burnham completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Alan Burnham earned a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University in 1972 and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1977. His career experience includes working as a chemist.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Alameda County, California (2024)

General election

General election for Alameda County Flood Control Board of Directors Zone 7 (3 seats)

Incumbent Laurene Green, incumbent Kathy Narum, and incumbent Sandy Figuers defeated Alan Burnham in the general election for Alameda County Flood Control Board of Directors Zone 7 on March 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Laurene Green (Nonpartisan)	32.9	30,343
✔	Submit photo	Kathy Narum (Nonpartisan)	25.8	23,833
✔	Submit photo	Sandy Figuers (Nonpartisan)	24.3	22,454
		Alan Burnham (Nonpartisan)	17.0	15,723

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 92,353
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Burnham's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Burnham in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Alan Burnham completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Burnham's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have a PhD in physical chemistry, and I have applied that education to materials science, chemical reaction engineering, and reservoir issues. I've worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for about 35 years and at Stanford University for 8 years as either an adjunct Professor or affiliate technical advisor. During most of my career, I've had project management responsibilities, which include both technical and financial performance aspects. I think about the function of systems as a whole and not just their individual components. My direct technical work on water systems includes developing analytical methods for measuring trace organic contaminants in water and developing technology for addressing water security issues. In both my technical career and in my service on the General Plan Advisory Committee of Livermore, I've consistently demonstrated both the ability and willingness to evaluate the work of others and ask hard questions when reports do not seem to measure up to the required standards. From a non-technical perspective, I've a strong interest and participation in community service in a variety of ways. I am a founding member of two nonprofit organizations--one that teaches life-skills to the economically challenged and homeless and one that provides science education to students and adults. In addition to my technical career, I currently operate a business providing affordable space to nonprofit organizations.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Realistically analyze the cost and reliability of various water supply upgrades, while realizing that we are more dependent on the State Water Project than southern California cites
• Expand groundwater cleanup activities to make sure that our local water storage capacity for dry years is viable for the long term
• Effectively communicate the whats and whys of our water supply and quality options and decisions so that the public has confidence that Zone 7 has their best interests at heart and is making wise decisions

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Being sure that sound technical and financial analysis, not emotions or ideology, are used to make decisions

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity and transparency

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have both the ability and experience to serve as an effective board member

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Serving the constituency as best possible

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2024 Elections

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External links

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Candidate

Alameda County Flood Control Board of Directors Zone 7

Website